Nutrition and Obesity

Obesity

By: Alec Artidiello and Milagros Isabel Baez

Table of Contents

Topic Discription……………………………………………….1

Topic Cause……………………………………………………2

Topic Solution/Prevention…………………………………….3

Topic Conclusion (Opinion)…………………………………..4

Topic Data and Statistics……………………………………..5

Bibliography…………............................................................6

Obesity

The foods that we eat everyday contribute to our well being. Many different foods provide us with the nutrients we need to stay healthy and maintain our weight. Food also provides us with the calories we need to get energy throughout the day. But sometimes, people consume more calories that they can burn. These calories that are not burned turn to fat and is stored in our bodies. Many people throughout the country overeat regularly and gain weight to eventually become obese. Obesity is the total amount of excess body fat. A person is considered obese when his/her weight is 20% higher than usual. This is calculated with a BMI (body mass index) tool. Body mass index is a measurement that compares both your weight and your height to identify your BMI. A healthy BMI would be considered between 19 and 22. This is a person who is healthy or a disciplined eater who maintains an exercise schedule throughout the week. Anything between 22 and 25 would be considered normal but on the verge of being overweight. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight and anyone who has a BMI above that is diagnosed with obesity. There are extreme cases of obesity called “Morbid Obesity”. This is when a person is 50%-100% over their average weight. These people have a BMI of 40 or higher. This is a dangerous case that will severely interfere with your health.
Page 1 | Obesity Your health is the most important thing to take care of within your life. It lets you live a longer life and keeps you in tip-top shape to do physical and mental things. But obesity tares your health apart. It increases the likelihood to get multiple other diseases which can be fatal. Obesity usually leads to heart disease, type-2 diabetes, and certain types of cancers, all which can leave a major impact on your life. Many people misuse the word obese and take it as a word to play around with. Obesity is a serious disease that leaves people sick, and feeling unhappy about themselves or left out. This disease is an epidemic in the United States and in other countries. Obesity is on the rise in our society because food is abundant and physical activity is optional. This is something that must be changed in people’s everyday lives. People might say that being overweight is “hereditary” or “runs in the family” (which can be true) but I think that sometimes it’s more of an excuse.. Exercise is key to being in shape or healthy. Not only is exercise key but so is eating the right foods that give you energy, not lower it. The right foods are the ones in your daily food chart which contain all the vitamins and nutrients that are good for a day.
Causes

All of weight gain occurs when people eat more calories than your body needs. If the food you eat provides more calories than your body needs, then the extra is turned into fat. First the fat cells increase in size until they can no longer expand. After that, they just start multiplying making your body contain unnecessary fats. You can lose weight, which the fat cells decrease but the amount will always remain the same. Many factors contribute to obesity, one of the main reasons being junk food and lack of exercise. Obese people often skip regular exercises, even the simple ones. Worst is the case of those people who live on earth just to stuff themselves with food. Following are other main factors that contribute to obesity:

Age: As people get older, the body tends to slow down your metabolism in which is needed to burn foods. As your metabolism starts to slow down, the calories you intake are not burned therefore you become overweight. That is why older people tend to watch what they eat in order to stay in a normal range.
Genetics: Being overweight tends to run in the family, especially those whose family is known for having diabetes or high blood pressure. It has been proven that if your biological mother Is overweight, then there will be a 75% chance that you will be to. And, if your biological mother is thin, then there will be a 75% chance that you will be thin. People might read that and think that their life is doomed to being overweight but they can change that by eating right and having an exercise schedule.
Physical Activity: It’s a common fact: people who exercise maintain a normal weight while those who don’t, become overweight. Everyone knows this but yet ignores the fact that it is completely true. Most obese people are what they are because of lack of exercise.
Illness: This is a very uncommon but there are some illnesses that can cause you to become overweight or obese. Illnesses that cause obesity are mostly hormonal imbalances. Others include hypothyroidism, depression, and rare brain problems.

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Prevention

Obesity has hit people of all ages across the globe. With self-determination and some effort, you can help yourself in preventing the condition of being obese.

Be Active
Simple activities, such as climbing the stairs instead of using elevators, morning and evening walk in the park and swimming, can bring grand changes in your lifestyle. These activities will not only help you burn excess fat, but also help you stay active. Start doing light exercises for thirty minutes, five times a week. Switch over to the tough exercises, once you have gained stamina and strength.
Keep Tabs on Your Weight
Monitor your weight regularly. Weigh yourself at least once a week. This will help you figure out how much extra flab you have lost by doing simple activities or workout. In case you are being inactive and not eating healthy, you will be aware of the weight gain at an early point. This will prevent your weight gain from increasing.
Stay Away From Junk Food
One of the main points of staying healthy is avoiding junk foods. The smart way to stay away from junk food is not to buy them at all. Avoid eating at fast food chains. Keep junk food out of your house as well. If you really like stuff like pizza and burgers, you may eat them not more than once or twice a month.
Eat Slowly & Only When You Are Hungry
Do not cut any of the three meals per day. Just divide them into small meals, with three hours in between.. At the same time, cut off high-calorie snacks in between the meals. Eat small portions of food and do not gulp them down. Do not stuff yourself with food when you are not hungry. Eat only when your body signals you need food. Eat slowly because the stomach takes some time to feel full. Diet
Your diet should be balanced, with fruits, vegetables and whole grains included in it. An obese adult should have at least five servings of low-sugar fruits and vegetables on a day. A vegetable serving shall include one cup of raw or one and half cup of cooked vegetables. One piece of fresh fruit and one and half cup of canned fruit are included in a serving of fruit. You should avoid fruits and vegetables that are high in calories, like mango.
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Conclusion

I believe that obesity is something that many people struggle with throughout the world. Even though people make fun of people who are overweight or obese, I really think that they bring it upon themselves. People who are obese tend to eat a lot more than average. If they really are subconscious of how they look, feel, and act, then they would put in effort to try to lose weight and exercise. Simple things like keeping track of your weight, following the steps to having a good diet, and exercising are things that help in every aspect. These things are easy to do and could be spread along the week so that it isn’t too much for one day.
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Data and Statistics 2010 State Obesity Rates | State | % | State | % | State | % | State | % | Alabama | 32.2 | Illinois | 28.2 | Montana | 23.0 | Rhode Island | 25.5 | Alaska | 24.5 | Indiana | 29.6 | Nebraska | 26.9 | South Carolina | 31.5 | Arizona | 24.3 | Iowa | 28.4 | Nevada | 22.4 | South Dakota | 27.3 | Arkansas | 30.1 | Kansas | 29.4 | New Hampshire | 25.0 | Tennessee | 30.8 | California | 24.0 | Kentucky | 31.3 | New Jersey | 23.8 | Texas | 31.0 | Colorado | 21.0 | Louisiana | 31.0 | New Mexico | 25.1 | Utah | 22.5 | Connecticut | 22.5 | Maine | 26.8 | New York | 23.9 | Vermont | 23.2 | Delaware | 28.0 | Maryland | 27.1 | North Carolina | 27.8 | Virginia | 26.0 | District of Columbia | 22.2 | Massachusetts | 23.0 | North Dakota | 27.2 | Washington | 25.5 | Florida | 26.6 | Michigan | 30.9 | Ohio | 29.2 | West Virginia | 32.5 | Georgia | 29.6 | Minnesota | 24.8 | Oklahoma | 30.4 | Wisconsin | 26.3 | Hawaii | 22.7 | Mississippi | 34.0 | Oregon | 26.8 | Wyoming | 25.1 | Idaho | 26.5 | Missouri | 30.5 | Pennsylvania | 28.6 | | This disease is an epidemic in the United States and in other countriesPage 5 | Obesity
. During the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States and rates remain high.

In 2012, our country led with the highest obesity rates out of 27. That is a terrible place to be in. Knowing that our country has such rates, we should be doing everything to stop this epidemic and help people who have obesity.

Bibliography

"CDC - NPAO - Adolescent and School Health." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 May 2012. <http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/npao

"Obesity." emedicine help. emedicine help, n.d. Web. 29 May 2012. <emedicinehealth.com/obesity/article

"Obesity Facts, Causes, Emotional Aspects and When to Seek Help."WebMD - Better information. Better health.. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 May 2012. <http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/what-is-obesity?page=2>.

state, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. "Obesity and Overweight for Professionals: Data and Statistics: Adult Obesity - DNPAO - CDC." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.h

F., Jim. "A Picture of Obesity Around the World ." Diet Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://www.diet-blog.com/07/a_picture_of_obesity_aro
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Bibliography: "CDC - NPAO - Adolescent and School Health." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 May 2012. &lt;http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/npao "Obesity." emedicine help. emedicine help, n.d. Web. 29 May 2012. &lt;emedicinehealth.com/obesity/article "Obesity Facts, Causes, Emotional Aspects and When to Seek Help."WebMD - Better information. Better health.. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 May 2012. &lt;http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/what-is-obesity?page=2&gt;. state, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. "Obesity and Overweight for Professionals: Data and Statistics: Adult Obesity - DNPAO - CDC." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2012. &lt;http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.h F., Jim. "A Picture of Obesity Around the World ." Diet Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2012. &lt;http://www.diet-blog.com/07/a_picture_of_obesity_aro Page 6 | Obesity Page 6 | Obesity